METHODS: Baseline and 1-year follow-up data from 5800 participants in the PREDIMED-Plus study were used. Each participant's food intake was estimated using validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaires, and the adherence to MD using the Dietary Score. The influence of diet on environmental impact was assessed through the EAT-Lancet Commission tables. The influence of diet on environmental impact was assessed through the EAT-Lancet Commission tables. The association between MD adherence and its environmental impact was calculated using adjusted multivariate linear regression models.
RESULTS: After one year of intervention, the kcal/day consumed was significantly reduced (-125,1 kcal/day), adherence to a MD pattern was improved (+0,9) and the environmental impact due to the diet was significantly reduced (GHG: -361 g/CO2-eq; Acidification:-11,5 g SO2-eq; Eutrophication:-4,7 g PO4-eq; Energy use:-842,7 kJ; and Land use:-2,2 m2). Higher adherence to MD (high vs. low) was significantly associated with lower environmental impact both at baseline and one year follow-up. Meat products had the greatest environmental impact in all the factors analysed, both at baseline and at one-year follow-up, in spite of the reduction observed in their consumption.
CONCLUSIONS: A program promoting a MD, after one year of intervention, significantly reduced the environmental impact in all the factors analysed. Meat products had the greatest environmental impact in all the dimensions analysed.
STUDY DESIGN: Data on ID were retrieved from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019 and estimated by age, sex, geographical region, and sociodemographic index (SDI).
METHODS: The estimated annual percentage change (EAPC) was calculated to evaluate the changing trend of age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR), age-standardized prevalence rate (ASPR), and age-standardized DALYs rate (ASDR) related to ID during the period 1990-2019.
RESULTS: In Asia, there were 126,983,965.8 cases with 5,466,213.1 new incidence and 1,765,995.5 DALYs of ID in 2019. Between 1999 and 2019, the EAPC in ASIR, ASPR and ASDR were -0.6 (95% confidence interval [CI], -0.8 to -0.4), -0.9 (95% CI, -1.2 to -0.7), and -1.6 (95% CI, -1.8 to -1.5), respectively. Malaysia charted the largest decrease in ASIR, ASPR, and ASDR (82.4%, 85.3%, and 80.9% separately), whereas the Philippines and Pakistan were the only two countries that witnessed an increase in ASIR and ASPR. ID burdens were more pronounced in women, countries located to the south of the Himalayas, and low-middle SDI regions.
CONCLUSIONS: The incidence, prevalence, and DALYs of ID in Asia substantially decreased from 1990 to 2019. Women and low-middle SDI countries have relatively high ID burdens. Governments need to pay constant attention to the implementation and monitoring of universal salt iodization.
STUDY DESIGN: This was a systematic review.
METHODS: Published research studies on FOF among older adults were searched using the following databases: PubMed, Cochrane Library, Scopus, ASEAN Citation Index, Thai Journal Citation Index, Malaysian Journal Citation Report and Google Scholar. All observational and experimental studies investigating FOF among community-dwelling older adults in Southeast Asia were eligible. A narrative synthesis was used to describe the findings. The Joanna Briggs Institute checklist was used to assess the quality and risk of bias of the included studies.
RESULTS: A total of 15 observational studies and three experimental studies were included after screening 2112 titles and abstracts. These studies, published between 2011 and 2021, were conducted in Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. The FOF prevalence ranged from 21.6% to 88.2%. The most commonly used FOF assessment tool was the Falls Efficacy Scale-International. Well-reported related factors of FOF were female sex, advanced age, balance impairment and fall history. All experimental studies utilising single- or multi-component interventions comprised an exercise approach. Limited studies have considered environmental factors.
CONCLUSIONS: Various related factors of FOF and the interventions implemented were revealed. Public health researchers and policymakers should consider the factors related to FOF in practical FOF intervention and prevention strategies. Further evidence on FOF issues is required to understand the multidimensional characteristics of FOF, specifically the environmental aspects of older adults in Southeast Asia.
STUDY DESIGN: For this study, data of weekly new cases of influenza and COVID-19 were obtained from official platforms for non-parametric statistical analysis.
METHODS: This study compared the influenza occurrences before and after the onset of COVID-19 using the Mann-Whitney U-test and explored Spearman's correlations between COVID-19 and influenza incidences after the onset of COVID-19.
RESULTS: It shows that influenza incidences before and after the onset of COVID-19 were significantly different and that influenza cases have significantly reduced after the onset of COVID-19. The weekly cases of influenza and COVID-19 were significantly and negatively correlated.
CONCLUSIONS: This study underscores the co-benefits of COVID-19 control measures and alleviates the concern for the risk of COVID-19 and influenza co-infection.
STUDY DESIGN: Systematic review and meta-analysis.
METHODS: This study was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis guidelines on August 8, 2022. To conduct the systematic review and meta-analysis, a search was performed using the keywords "urinary tract system", "UTI", "pregnancy", and "gestation" was performed in several databases, including Web of Science (WoS), PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, Embase, and Google Scholar, without a time limit until September 18, 2022. The analysis was performed using a random-effects model, and the heterogeneity of the studies was assessed using the I2 index. The Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software (Version 2) was used for data analysis.
RESULTS: The systematic review and meta-analysis of 27 studies, which included a total of 30,641 pregnant women, showed an overall prevalence of UTI (both symptomatic and asymptomatic) to be 23.9% (95% confidence interval: 16.2-33.8). Meta-regression analysis was conducted to examine the impact of two factors, namely study sample size and study year, on the heterogeneity of the meta-analysis. The results revealed that an increase in sample size, and the study year was associated with a decrease in the prevalence of UTI in pregnant women (P
STUDY DESIGN: A scoping review design was used.
METHODS: A systematic literature search was conducted using the Medline, CINAHL, AMED, Ageline, PsycINFO, Web of Sciences, Scopus, Thai-Journal Citation Index, MyCite and trial registries databases.
RESULTS: Thirty-seven studies and six study protocols were included, from Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, Indonesia and the Philippines. One-sixth of the studies involved interventions, while the remainder were observational studies. The observational studies mainly determined the falls risk factors. The intervention studies comprised multifactorial interventions and single interventions such as exercises, educational materials and visual correction. Many of the studies replicated international studies and may not have taken into account features unique to Southeast Asia.
CONCLUSION: Our review has revealed studies evaluating falls and management of falls in the Southeast Asian context. More research is required from all Southeast Asian countries to prepare for the future challenges of managing falls as the population ages.
STUDY DESIGN: Systematic review.
METHODS: A search for relevant articles was carried out using Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) and MEDLINE (via EBSCOhost), Scopus, Science Direct, PubMed and Google Scholar with multiple search terms. Inclusion criteria comprised articles published in English language and assessing general health literacy. Risk of bias reduced with the involvement of two independent reviewers in the screening of the literature and the quality assessment process.
RESULTS: A total of 11 studies were included, which only consist of studies from five countries out of 11 making up the Southeast Asian region. The overall prevalence of limited health literacy varied considerably, 1.6%-99.5% with a mean of 55.3% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 35.1%-75.6%). A much higher prevalence was noted in studies conducted in healthcare settings, 67.5% (95% CI: 48.6%-86.3%). The most common factors associated with limited health literacy were education attainment, age, income and socio-economic background. Other factors identified were gender and health behaviours.
CONCLUSIONS: In summary, despite the little evidence available and existences of high heterogeneity among studies, limited health literacy is still prevalent in Southeast Asian countries. Urgent strategies to improve and promote health literacy in the region are highly warranted. Besides, more studies on health literacy with better quality on the methodology aspect are needed.